Jules begins speaking, but the Deputy Director, Withers, soon noticed that everything Jules said seemed utterly nonsensical. He noticed the others, who usually only minimally listened to the speaker so they could laugh or applaud when customary, were all staring agog at Jules. Withers debated whether he should interfere, but when he did, though he thought he said perfectly sensible words to calm everyone, they stared at him agog, and then panic began to set in as no one could understand anyone else - everything everyone said sounded like gibberish.
We learn that Merlin uses the power Viritrilbia (Mercury) - the master of language - gave him to confuse their speech - similar to the confusion at the Tower of Babel. He then sneaks out of the banquet room and releases the animals the NICE confine for their experiments. These animals find their way to the banquet room where they cause more panic, mayhem, and even death, especially at the feet of the elephant who breaks in through the front door, causing sheer terror. In the confusion, Miss Hardcastle, the head of the NICE police, shoots Jules (the figurehead Director) who dies. She keeps shooting again and again which furthers the wild terror. Soon Miss Hardcastle herself turns up dead.
Mark blacked out during the commotion. Merlin woke him with a splash of cold water in his face. Mark noticed an empty room filled a hideous confusion of mangled people awash in food, filth, and spoiled luxury. Merlin handed him a note which informed him his wife awaited him at St. Anne's and to come quickly. Mark went outside, Merlin struck him on the back, and Mark found himself running as never before - his legs would not stop.
Meanwhile, Withers somehow escapes the dining room. He understands all is lost, the powers of Deep Heaven reached the Earth (Tellus) - despite the assurances of the dark Masters they could not. He, Straik, and Filostrato went before the talking head (actually the voice of dark Masters), worshiping him. The talking head demands a further sacrifice, to they killed Filostrato - and then demands a further sacrifice - so Withers kills Straik. Then Mr. Bultitude (the bear) shows up, also released by Merlin, and upset at his captivity. He kills Withers, and thus Belbury practically ends defeated in one evening.Feverstone decides to escape Belbury by car. However, he finds his car follows an old Roman road between Belbury and Edgestow apart from his control.
Frost, who denies everything, including his own emotions and self, goes into the room adjacent to the talking head (the voice of the dark masters). Seeing his close companions mutilated, but denying the reality and his own emotions, he pours out petrol and lights it, killing himself and only realizing at the last moment everything he believed in was wrong.
Ch. 15 - The Descent of the Gods
Ch. 17 - Venus at St. Anne's
Overview - That Hideous Strength
Character List
